Why JC Buendia designs suit even Arroyo By Alex Vergara Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 23:02:00 05/15/2008
MANILA, Philippines—President Macapagal-Arroyo took a break from her busy schedule Tuesday afternoon to watch JC Buendia’s 30-piece collection consisting mostly of tailored dresses, tiered skirts, beaded jackets and men’s suits inspired by the late Princess Diana.
The high tea event at Makati Shangri-La was part of the ongoing “Fashion Watch” series produced by Inno Sotto, with sponsors Nokia, Belo Essentials, Globe Asiatique and Metro Bank Femme Visa.
Wearing Buendia’s silk jacquard ivory coatdress and a pair of gold high-heeled slingbacks, the President reportedly told the designer’s mother Corazon soon after the show that she could probably wear most of the styles.
Buendia, with Ito Curata and Rem Divino, has been designing most of the President’s outfits since 2001.
Known for impeccably tailored designs that flatter the figure, Buendia didn’t disappoint as he presented wearable and well-constructed white dresses with varying necklines and silhouettes.
He invited his most famous client two months ago, but he didn’t get confirmation from her staff until two weeks before the show.
Real challenge
His real challenge, he said, was to keep the collection from becoming predictable without abandoning his core strengths. The show, after all, was Buendia’s biggest.
This he managed to pull off with aplomb by juxtaposing silhouettes as well as materials with opposing textures such as Mikado silk, pleated organza and chiffon.
He had several layered chiffon dresses with corded edge, which he each paired with a beaded and structured coat, jacket and shrug. Perhaps to channel Princess Diana in her later years, Buendia used faux pearls and sugar beads instead of rhinestones.
Aside from resorting to obvious Japanese and Grecian references as seen in a strapless A-line dress with origami-like folds and a semi-draped column, Buendia managed to put a twist to his collection through such details as exaggerated collars and stiff, cut-on-the-bias tiers.
One oversized collar morphed into an abbreviated cape that wound around the model’s back. He also had shirtdresses with covered buttons, exaggerated cuffs and big, pointed collars that dropped to the bodice.
To give the collection more oomph, shoe designer Maco Custodio provided the show’s black-stockinged female models with Balenciaga-inspired platform shoes.
Heeding the tropical heat, Buendia made men’s suits from textured canvas, the thickness of which allowed him to junk shoulder pads. He lined the shrunken jackets with cotton in lieu of silk to make them more weather-friendly.
We found a shift dress with a faux layer of beadwork peeking along the hem a bit off in terms of proportions. The flaw became a tad more evident once the model turned her back.
Apart from this minor dampener (and a few no-brainers), most of the pieces in Buendia’s collection have the power to turn even the most style-challenged woman into a fashion plate. Even if only for an afternoon.
Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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